Big buzz builds around Jackie Robinson biopic '42'

Compiled by Jamshid Ghazi Askar , Deseret News

Published: Friday, April 5 2013 1:59 p.m. MDT

This film image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson in a scene from "42," by writer-director Brian Helgeland. Remembering Robinson's accomplishments is more important than ever, say people involved with "42" and baseball historians alike. And because he was such an inspiring cultural figure, it's more important than ever to get his story right. (AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, D. Stevens) (D. Stevens, Associated Press)

The new motion picture “42” is about Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball on April 15, 1947. Although the film won’t enter wide release until April 12, a flurry of positive reviews is already emerging from advance screenings.

Chadwick Boseman, the actor who plays Jackie Robinson in the movie, recently told CBS Sports that Robinson’s widow, 90-year-old Rachel Robinson, approved of the final product. “She said she is in love with the film," Boseman said. "At the end of the day, if you please her, what else is there?”

Tuesday at the White House — with Rachel Robinson on hand as an invited guest — Michelle Obama described the positive reaction that she and President Obama experienced when they screened “42” over the weekend. The Associated Press reported that the first lady commented, “I can say with all sincerity that it was truly powerful for us. We walked away from that just visibly, physically moved by the experience of the movie, of the story. It reminds you how much struggle is required to make real progress and change.”

Don Zimmer played with Robinson on the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1954-56. Now a special adviser to the Tampa Bay Rays, Zimmer screened “42” Monday and afterwards told the Tampa Bay Times, “I thought it was right on target.”

Beneath the headline “‘42' shows why Jackie Robinson still matters," the Associated Press published an article Monday that read in part, “Remembering Robinson's accomplishments is more important than ever, say people involved with ‘42’ and baseball historians alike. And because he was such an inspiring cultural figure, it's more important than ever to get his story right.”

Jamshid Ghazi Askar is a graduate of BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School and member of the Utah State Bar. Contact him at jaskar@desnews.com or 801-236-6051.